"questions such as those are almost always better if made in character so others can reply and we can roleplay. Despite what Angie keeps telling us, this is the best part of the PBPs. The dice rolling and strategizing is fun too but this interaction is something that you just can't get in a live game."

I agree. It didn't feel natural at the time but I enjoy trying to keep things in gameplay.

I love Jibril's little interjection into Khaddar's story. Which I also love. Not sure that I deserved this: (Despite what Angie keeps telling us, this is the best part of the PBPs.) When did I say otherwise? Sometimes it's hard to tell what's a joke and what's a jab. :) Anyhow, I'm going to move things along, but feel free to keep RPing the evening and the morning.

That was a response to telling us to 'Don't worry, action will be coming. Just a bit more set-up before you get to the doors.'

I was just saying that the game is very good the way it is. No need to hurry to the 'action' if everyone is having a good time. :)

Angie H wrote:

As they enjoyed their breakfast, a furious pounding could be heard on the front door. When the staff opened it, a well-dressed woman stormed in, not bothering with the servant. "Where is he? Where is my son? Does he know what time it is? Get him down here! DUNCAN!"

Is this 'mother'? Remember that I portrayed her as an overprotective person who spoils her son to death.

Elia, can you sound off? Could you tell us how the game is going for you? I don't want to leave people behind and I want to keep enjoying the posting. I'm in no rush to get anywhere, happy to talk about the table settings (no wait that's too far) but don't want to bury you in posts either.

I've been having sleeping troubles and work craziness lately, and it's left me with little time, energy, or brainpower for posting. As Duncan says, don't feel like you have to wait for my sake - if you've got something to say, feel free! I'm enjoying the game, even if I haven't been able to post much, and I don't have a problem catching up on posts.

Angie, if you'd prefer a more active poster in my spot, I completely understand and will happily step aside.

Re: posting pace. As long as everybody is enjoying themselves, I'm happy. I am very aware of how life can find a way of disrupting our intentions. I personally don't mind if some players are more active than other players. There are times when I can post multiple times a day, and others when there are days in between posts. As long as nobody gets bent out of shape about not being waited for, then it's fine with me.

When it comes to combat, I'll wait as long as I feel reasonable for people to post their actions, and then I'll bot them to the best of my abilities. If non-combat tags have been left open, feel free to revisit them, even if days later.

I am very satisfied with the way the game is running so far. Of course in a perfect world we would all have time to post daily. But in this world, I'm happy to settle for what I can get from you, especially as this group is so interesting and working so well together. I would not get rid of Elia and Ifanna for the sake of some barbarian who will post twice a day. That said, if the game starts being work instead of fun, then that's a different story.

Lots of things to see here. A good place to buy any last minute items you want, but prices are 30% higher than usual. But pretty much anything you can think of is available.

Some of the sponsors/advertisers are as follows:

* Strongarm Safe and Security have a booth, where they are showing off the 3XQ. Contestants are welcome to look at it from the other side of the booth, but any attempt to get closer will be met with lethal force.

*Mage guild is offering membership those who make top scores in the Magic challenge.

*Halfling blacksmith Lorra is looking for somebody to try out her new plate armour - half the weight of normal armour, and better movement. It looks like it would crumble at the first heavy hit.

*Several armourers, weapon makers, weavers, etc will have a booth, and will be offering one or two of their top item to the contestant/team that they choose. Generally the recipient will have to say something nice about them before and after the Games, and/or wear their colours/logo during the Game. The better the item offered, the more people trying for it. If there's anything on your wish list, describe the booth that offers it, make your pitch and a diplomacy/bluff roll, and I'll take over from there.

If there's anything you want to try for, do that first, then Duncan's mom will take you to "her sponsor", after she locates him.

Hmmm...rulesy-folks? What do you think? She wants to get under the canvas back of the tent and surprise somebody on the other side. Acrobatics and stealth? Acrobatics with a higher DC? She's basically entering an unknown's threat zone (though she doesn't know if they'll attack or not if aware of her), and I assume she would normally be open to an AoO while crawling under the tent wall. I'd reread the rules, but I need to clean up this nosebleed...

She's moving with stealth (She has cover provided by the interference of the wall) which means she moves half speed and makes her stealth roll vs the perception of whoever can see her when she comes out of there. She probably has a plus four or five to her roll because of all the noise and chaos of the fair-grounds atmosphere in the area.

You don't threaten if you're not armed and not aware of a problem. This is what stealth and sneak attack were made for! If she is seen walking towards the back of the tent by the person she's trying to sneak up on, though, she basically has no cover, which means no chance to use the stealth skill, which means if they want to make an AoO while she's flat footed (crawling!) they can.

This is one of the times where applying real world logic/physics to the problem has game mechanics to back it up correctly.

I've been doing some sketching. I might even do some sketchup 3d modeling of some small stuff. If anyone is interested and doesn't mind sharing their e-mail, reach me at: corey12670@gmail.com and I'll reply with pics. If you like drawing etc. please send me your stuff.

Hey everyone, I'm having eye surgery on Wednesday (cornea transplant) and will be out of commission for at least one week, possibly longer. It all depends on how I heal. Please bot me as needed. Although Angie knows where to find me if she needs me :) I will be going dark on Tuesday at noon.

Sounds a bit more important than posting - are you nervous? I've had tendon and bone work done as day surgeries. In and out in a couple of hours and it was no sweat. I'm not given to trusting people like that. Good luck with your surgery!

He's like a dog in a bowling alley. A deer in the headlights. I think he's wise but he's so dull that no one knows he is. He's the opposite of Clayton or perhaps Clayton's 'straight man'. Gracie Allen to his Greorge Burns. While Clayton and Khaddar are more like Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy.

He's like a dog in a bowling alley. A deer in the headlights. I think he's wise but he's so dull that no one knows he is. He's the opposite of Clayton or perhaps Clayton's 'straight man'.

You should do a group pic if you have the time.

At one time, my daughter used to play with me and she had become quite proficient at 'drawing' character in the style of Order of the Stick and I would ask her for group picks, which were quite good actually.

Here is one. Beth was played by 'Quinn' and Illyria was played by our GM.

Yes yes yes! Group shot! Corey, do you know how to see other people's profile pages? If you click on their names, it'll take you to the profile, and I think most people have a decent description up there.

Yes yes yes! Group shot! Corey, do you know how to see other people's profile pages? If you click on their names, it'll take you to the profile, and I think most people have a decent description up there.

Very clearly cobbled-together from overlapping pieces of the heaviest bits of various hides. None are dyed in any way, so the different pieces are different in shade, color, and texture. Nothing else particularly spectacular about it.

Here is a sketch. Please let me know if you'd like any changes - drawing someone else's character can be an oddly personal thing. It's very light - sorry if it's too light. I will darken it in with more detail after any changes. Some thoughts I had:

1)Quinn - I have you a bit apart from the group. You seem protective and private. I've made your 'curly hair' long. You have your MW chain. I imagine it blackened with a bolero style leather jacket with protective shoulder pads. Tried out soft leather boots that I hope aren't too Peter Pan. She's pretty. I think her 10 Cha comes from what I take as a vein of distrust or loner-ism. On the opposite side from Duncan of course.

2)Khaddar - had trouble visualizing the boots. I was thinking almost entirely overlaid with metal but thick leather underneath. I gave him a multi-layered Keikogi. The sash you have around your shoulders -

Khaddar wrote:

Around his shoulders, laced around his forearms, and twice around his waist, thick sashes of bright saffron hues glare against the otherwise un-dyed off-white linen of his robelet

-I took this to be the ribbon often used to help keep the sleeves of the gi back. I was thinking more top knot then bun. On the other side of Elia from Ifanna.

3)Elia - I hope you like Ifanna. The hunched head makes her look larger than you can see. Tried out some different looks for the hide armour. This one has a little voyageur in it. Attached a fur collar to echo Ifanna. Tried to make her look like she might bite. Her face is rough - want to give her some more rounded smooth lines when I finish the drawing.

4)Duncan - he obviously thinks he's at the front of the line - instead of on the side of the photo. Velvet upper body with split sleaves over a chain shirt. Pantaloons that are as close to short-pants as I dare over leotard. Hard boot tops to a decorative detail on soft leather soles. I thought maybe a single hawking glove - very Michael Jackson.

I have been showing the art to everyone who walks through my livingroom. Universally the result is "Niiiiiice. Who are they?" And then I explain it. There is usually much laughter about Dun Can Clay-Ton.

GM apologies. I realize that the start of this battle/challenge was not very clearly laid out. It's a bit of a strange one, because on one hand you have something affecting your mind, and on the other, you're mostly interacting within the group. But I realize now that having a combination of combat rolls, and "playing it out" isn't really going to work. So I'll roll initiative now, and we'll go on that moving forward.

So init order, starting now (round 2) is: (enemies???), Quinn, Elia, Jibril, Duncan, Khaddar. Again, sorry for mucking up the start of this (didn't get a proper surprise round, etc). I'll learn as I go.

Also, what do people think of me pming individuals with the results of what spell is being cast on you? Better to have the surprise? Or too confusing? Would you prefer I do it in a spoiler? I'll pm for round 2, and then see what you think.

@Jibril - going for two weapon fighting was a bit of a cheat. Unless he'll be swinging warhammer and grandasa when there's a "real" enemy to fight?

@Khaddar, I'm trying to wrap my head around Khaddar's attack on Quinn. As I understand it, Khaddar attempted to grapple, and then trip Quinn, using two separate rolls. Is this not two actions? I don't see anything about being able to move from a grapple into a trip. I can see that he would need to grab her in order to get her down, but shouldn't this just be one roll, instead of two?

Assuming I'm right (and because of time zones I'll rule that I am so we can move forward, though please school me if I'm wrong), then Khaddar would have successfully tripped Quinn, and he can then attack next round. She tried to escape, and failed. Since I buggered up initiative, she goes first for round 2, so gets another try (depending on what gets cast on her first, if anything).